The biggest news from the game tonight was that Conklin wasn't able to get the shutout. There really wasn't much else going on, which is to say the Pens played a great road game.
It wasn't looking good early, when the Pens had two power plays early in the first period and managed a total of two shots. I was afraid the Panthers would build some momentum off of that and bring the fight to the Pens. That never happened until the game was decided.
The best scoring chance during the first was a nice redirect by Brooks Orpik that Vokoun kept out of the net.
The Pens used the power play to get things going in the second period, with a nice bad-angle goal by Sykora. They added two more in the next 3:06.
Crosby scored on a self-created breakaway. I say "self-created" because when he took the puck at his own blue line, he had two defense men between him and Vokoun. He used his speed and was skating in all alone when he put the puck past the left skate of the goalie.
Laraque added his third of the year to cap the scoring for the Pens. They dominated the second period, out shooting the Panthers 15-4.
Conklin again made the save he needed to make. The Panthers didn't throw tons of pressure at him, and he was able to handle what the saw.
The Pens tried to make things interesting by allowing a short-handed goal with under 5:00 left in the third, but the Panthers would have none of it, with Montador tripping Crosby to send the Pens back on the power play with 2:48 remaining. The Pens looked quite a bit more decisive this time, and there were no short handed chances.
Good road win in a place that's traditionally tough for the Pens to play.
Next up: The southern trip continues on over to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
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3 comments:
They played a solid 1st, then really stepped it up in the 2nd. It's good to see the Pens play such a controlled type of game. It seemed like the puck was in the offensive zone most of the time. Even the Florida announcers were talking about it. GO PENS!
With the current streak going, it's hard to imagine the Pens losing anytime soon. But if there are any teams with a chance ruining it, Tampa Bay is it. I don't even remember the last time the Pens beat the Lightning; they have been a nightmare.
Here's hoping the only streak that's broken is the Pens' losing ways against Tampa!
Yeah, it will be interesting to see them play T.B. They have killed the Pens in recent years... but then again, so had the Panthers :)
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